We know what you’re thinking… The dreaded exam season is upon us but don’t fret. To give you a little helping hand we’ve pulled together some helpful study tips to keep you organised and prepared for your exams.
Study Tip 1: Organise your study space
Organising your notes, files and papers is incredibly important for a successful study sesh, this includes your computer too. There is nothing more frustrating than searching through files and papers trying to find that one piece of information you need, so remember to label and colour code to your heart’s content. A cluttered desk leads to a cluttered mind!
Your space should be comfortable, organised and distraction free. That’s why all bedrooms come with large desks with plenty of plug points and space to spread out and study to your hearts content. Remember this is your space, so make sure to tailor it to suit your studying needs, this could include reed diffusers, a music playlist or inspirational artwork.
Tip 2: Getting enough sleep
Catching those ZZZs is vital to successful study as sleep effects the performance of our brain. Studies have shown that we perform better when we’re getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep a night. A lack of sleep can result in poor concentration levels and memory. So put down your phone, grab yourself a chamomile tea and hit the hay.
If you’re struggling with sleep take a look at this blog about getting better sleep.
Study Tip 3: Take regular breaks
You may think it’s best to cram in as many hours of studying as possible, but this can actually cause more harm than good. Taking regular breaks can help boost your performance and your mood. Try taking small breaks throughout your study time by going for walks, grabbing a coffee, catching up on that Netflix boxset or making a healthy lunch.
Tip 4: Find what works best for you when studying
Everyone processes information differently and works at a pace that best suits them. Working out your preferred working style can make it easier to understand and retain information.
Visual learners – Visual learners respond best to visual aids, colour coding, flash cards and videos. Using colour and diagrams in your notes can be very beneficial.
Auditory learners – Auditory learners learn best by listening. Audio cues like speech, audio recordings and videos. Recording key points and listening back to them could be your thing.
Kinesthetics learners – Kinesthetic learners prefer to learn by making flash cards, playing educational games or drawing. They find getting up and moving around helps them to retain information. Try creating flash cards and quizzing your friends.
Study Tip 5: Eliminate distractions
Before you open your books and switch on your laptop it’s important to make sure you won’t be easily distracted by your surroundings. Making sure to turn off the tv and put your phone on silent. This can help reduce the temptations of social media and the last episode of that crime documentary you’ve been itching to watch.
And finally. Remember to be to be kind to yourself. Studying can take its toll on our mental health and cause stress so take regular breaks and have fun.
